Yalong Bay, Sanya (亚龙湾)

Yalong Bay (亚龙湾, Yàlóng Wān) is the postcard crescent that made Sanya famous — 7 km of fine white sand, palm-fronted promenade, and the clearest, calmest water in Hainan, visibly clear to 8-12 metres on a good day. The public beach is free and open 24 hours, so the only real cost is getting here.

Gentle waves and a shallow shelf near the shore make it Sanya's best swimming beach, and the safest choice for families with children. Swim inside the roped areas only, heed the lifeguards' whistles, use reef-safe sunscreen, and take seasonal jellyfish warnings seriously.

A wall of top resorts fronts the sand — Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton — but you don't need to stay at one to swim. Public access points sit between the hotels; resort guests just get closer loungers. Beach chairs rent for ¥30-50 ($4-7).

Water sports cluster at the bay's western end: banana boats ¥50-80 ($7-11), jet skis about ¥200 ($28) for 15 minutes, parasailing ¥180-300 ($25-42). For jet skis, rent only from hotel-recommended operators and photograph the equipment first — the "you scratched it" settlement is a known Sanya scam.

Airport shuttle line 1 reaches the bay for ¥15-25 ($2-3.50); a taxi costs ¥80-100 ($11-14) (fix the price or use Didi); Bus 25 links to Dadonghai for a few yuan. Expect a resort bubble once you're here — few independent restaurants, so plan meals at your hotel or back in town, and pack your own drinks for the sand.

Pair the bay with the Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park (¥158 / $22) for rainforest panoramas above the beach, and allow a relaxed half day for the sand and sea alone.